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Publisher's Summary

What is the nature of the relationship between science and religion? When do they conflict? And how do they influence each other in the pursuit of knowledge and truth? While conventional wisdom says that science and theology must perpetually clash, they have actually been partners in an age-old adventure.

These 12 engaging lectures cover both the historical sweep and philosophical flashpoints of this epic interaction. You'll encounter a surprisingly cooperative dynamic in which theologians and natural scientists - from St. Augustine to Sir Isaac Newton to contemporary thinkers - share methods, ideas, aspirations, and a tradition of disputational dialogue.

Moving from the early centuries of the Christian era and the Middle Ages to our own day, Professor Principe examines St. Augustine's profound ideas about reason and faith, and he follows St. Thomas Aquinas's exploration of miracles - the need to identify them is one example of how scientific and theological inquiry overlap.

You'll meet a 19th-century writer whose anti-Catholic diatribe spread myths that persist today, and you'll learn about the courage (and stubbornness) of Galileo, the unexpected rationality of his accusers, the inspiration of Darwin's natural selection, and the religious implications of Lemaître's big bang theory.

The solution to modern conflicts is the study of history. Such study will equip you to join that partnership with ideas and a clear, historical perspective on the science/religion relationship. These tools will help you participate more effectively in a dialogue that is as thought-provoking today as it was hundreds of years ago.
©2006 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2006 The Great Courses

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  • Eristic
  • 2013-08-24

Amazingly interesting and comprehensive

If you could sum up Science and Religion in three words, what would they be?

I can't stop listening to this course. It is deeply interesting, very well reasoned and entertaining too. Dr. Principe covers most fallacies of reasoning related to this topic. I learned that the schism between science and religion is overstated and why. I gained new respect for those who grappled with the search for truth long before me and a greater respect for my own process. The course answered my questions and entirely exceeded my expectations. Dr. Pincipe combines a sharp mind and wonderful style with a great sense of humor. Best non fiction I've listened to at Audible. Bravo Dr. Principe!

Any additional comments?

Wonderful book for people attempting to understand and balance faith and intellect.

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

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  • Jonathan
  • 2013-09-17

Wonderful

Any additional comments?

This is one of the best and most enlightening lectures I have heard in quite awhile. A must listen to to anyone who wants to clear up the Science v. Religion battle.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

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  • Chris Watkins
  • 2017-10-31

Good survey of the history of science and religion

A more accurate title would be “The History of the Interaction Between Science and Religion”. In that sense these lectures are excellent and provide a good perspective on the separation (or lack thereof) between science and religion. It also highlights the diversity of thought and long history that runs counter to our soundbite driven simplistic understanding of current “conflicts” between science and religion. Our society loves the circus and that, more than facts and history, is what drives our current public discourse.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • Miguel Negron
  • 2016-12-23

Excellent opener to a large subject

It examines the historical development of the argument between science and religion. I liked the intellectual approach where critical thinking takes prevalence instead of defending one side or the other. Well examined and engaging.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2018-01-30

Excellent overview

A thought provoking lecture series that presents a balanced overview of the history of the interaction between science and religion.

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  • daniel schepis
  • 2016-03-21

.

As always from the learning compsny, this was of excellent quality. I did find the last discussions on evolution kinda displaying just the sort of religion / science bias the lecturer was speaking out against.

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  • D. DOMINGUE
  • 2015-04-26

Science & Religion, not Science vs. Religion

The intentions of the course are good. The actual performance is rather lacking, though.

I bought the course hoping to help me mediate my family members when they get enraged in the debates. The lectures did give me some reasoning arguments for counseling, but not as much as I had hoped.

The professor has good intentions, but is not the best performer. His message was a bit too diluted. At times, it was hard to make out what his point was. He did give good summaries toward the end, however.

I will do my best to organize what I have learned to help me calm my family members when the debate launches.

1 of 4 people found this review helpful

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  • John
  • 2014-03-15

An insult to the intelligence

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

By being objective - the whole thing requires you to believe that non-fact based belief can be scientific if you believe hard enough.

Did Professor Lawrence M. Principe do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

N/A

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

My first reaction to this was outrage, that someone could possibly insult my intelligence by trying to claim that historically incorrect, self-contradictory religious texts could be used to counter argue science based facts and be taught as a pseudo-science. It equally insults religious faithful by turning their beliefs into a pseudo-science akin to astrology.

Any additional comments?

There have been several really interesting topics in this lecture series but unless you want to accentuate any road-rage you may feel while driving and listening to this, skip this lecture.

6 of 44 people found this review helpful